The New York Bar Foundation recently awarded a grant of $10,000 to Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS), to be used in support of their Elderly Project to serve New York City’s low-income seniors.

“For 35 years, VOLS has partnered with New York City’s legal and nonprofit community to help close the justice gap facing low-income New Yorkers. We are grateful to partner with The New York Bar Foundation to assist seniors and their loved ones to overcome legal problems that affect their ability to retain their housing,” noted VOLS Elderly Project Director, Peter Kempner. “Our clinics, technical support, and life planning services are an integral part of an interconnected web of providers aimed at allowing New York City’s seniors to age in place and to live with dignity.”

Foundation grants assist non-profit organizations with essentials-of-life issues such as child support, consumer debt, housing, access to health care and education, and family matters such as domestic violence and family stability. 

“The New York Bar Foundation has allocated nearly $700,000 in grants to more than 85 programs across New York significantly increasing the total dollar amount of grants over the past several years,” said Lucia Whisenand, chair of the Grant Review Committee.  “The issues we touch on are extensive and impact people in life changing ways.”

By raising awareness of the need for access to civil legal services and allocating resources to help meet these needs, the Foundation will help make access to justice a reality for New Yorkers and, thereby, enhance the understanding of and respect for the rule of law. 

“Through our grant-making program we help improve access to justice by providing seed grants to innovative legal projects piloting new ways to help those in need,” adds June Castellano, Vice-chair of the Grant Review Committee.  “When you give to the Foundation you help make a difference across New York State.”

The New York Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is the charitable arm of the New York State Bar Association.  Established in 1950, the Foundation is dedicated to aiding charitable and educational projects to meet the law-related needs of the public and the legal profession. To learn more about the Foundation and how you can support its programs, go to www.tnybf.org or email Deborah Auspelmyer dauspelmyer@tnybf.org.

May 31, 2019

Contact:

Deborah Auspelmyer

Foundation Executive

The New York Bar Foundation

dauspelmyer@tnybf.org

518-487-5650

Peter Kempner

Director, Elderly Project

Volunteers of Legal Service

pkempner@volsprobono.org

347-521-5704